CHAPTER XXXIV 



THE PIG 



is every reason to believe that the do- 

 A mestic pig is descended from one or another 

 of the numerous kinds of wild boar scattered over 

 Asia perhaps even from several of them. But the 

 Asiatic wild boar bears so close a resemblance in 

 shape and habits to the European that it will suffice 

 for me to acquaint you with the latter in order to 

 give you a correct idea of the former, and thus show 

 you what the pig must have been in its primitive 

 state. 



"Though very numerous in early times through- 

 out the forests of France, wild boars are from day 

 to day diminishing in number with us, and are 

 destined sooner or later to disappear altogether, as 

 they have already disappeared from England, where 

 they have now been exterminated to the last one, as 

 is the case also with wolves. This complete exter- 

 mination is explained by the situation of the coun- 

 try. England is entirely surrounded by the sea. 

 If then the wolf and boar, hunted down as two un- 

 desirable neighbors, are at last entirely destroyed, 

 the two species are forever annihilated in the island, 

 since the sea interposes an impassable barrier 

 against new arrivals." 



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